Stravinsky Fest

DCI Semifinals

Friday, August 10, 2012

Lucas Oil Stadium

I think that the concept of the live blog of Semifinals was a fun one. It was also a bit more work for me, because I was still writing stuff for this more complete blog.  But it's a good basis for today's blog, so I'll be using the comments from that night and embellishing a bit with pictures and more  comments.

In the morning, we got a little something to eat at Starbucks, then watched the Olympics for a while before going to lunch at our favorite place, Tastings.

I only had 3 tastes of wine, since I wasn't that hungry, and neither was Bro.  But they were all pretty good.  The food was also quite tasty.  We shared a White Pizza, which was a flatbread pizza with cheese (I think it was gruyere) , arugula and a garlic and olive oil sauce.  Delicious.  We also had some steamed mussels, in a broth made with wine and garlic.

The wines I tasted:

1) 2011 Villa Wolf Gewurztraminer* -- sweet and yummy.
2) 2010 Pennywise Pinot Noir
3) 2010 Discoveries Moscato* -- really like this one

So my favorite, not surprisingly, was the Moscato.  Also, I guess I go for the California wines, because the descriptions seem like I would like them more than the others.  

We got to our seats at LOS just in time to hear the Hellcats trumpet players play the Star-Spangled Banner.  I didn't really like the arrangement, but at least it was live.  For today's show, we were 18 rows up from the field, along the 30-yard line.  So we get to see faces of the drum corps members!

Top 12 scores, marked with *, advance to Finals

CASCADES -- 68.75

Cascades Drummers

Their intonation was off.  Where are their shakos?  I thought they wore them yesterday, at least the horn players.  Someone's heel got stuck on her flag for a moment.  Bro told me the next day that he read that someone forgot the plumes to the shakos, and they didn't want to look weird without the plumes, so they didn't wear the shakos at all.  So there was violence in the early afternoon without hats.  I like their martial arts moves.

SPARTANS -- 70.75

I thought that the dead person from the first show was still on the field, because the show starts with someone laying in the center, just like the other show ended.  We are about ready to see some real drum corps with NO MICROPHONES!  This is the first corps out of several that are playing Stravinsky today.  There were a couple of drops from the CG.  One of the guys playing the marimba was really into the last portion of the Firebird theme.

MANDARINS - 71.60

Chant Corps

The color guard members' faces were painted.  I don't remember seeing that before, but maybe I just didn't sit close enough to see that last night.  They should have used real stones for the temple.  That wouldn't have been heavy or anything.  The chant corps portions went well, and I like the battery feature.  

SCVC -- 72.75

The Queen and the Aussie

It's difficult to watch drum corps and take pictures when you have tears in your eyes.  I am totally in love with that show.  I like the...everything!  The CG was spot on.  I like how they taper the snare drum ensemble down to the center snare solo.  The mellophone solo for "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" was beautiful.  I've only seen the show twice, and I know that I'll miss it until I get the recording on DVD.

BDB -- 73.60

BDB Big Ass Drum

So now we're sitting close enough that I can hear narration.  The dude is saying something about when you pour water into a cup, the water becomes the cup.  I thought that maybe this was "Dada II".  Oh, those ARE rain sticks!  Bro rolled his eyes at me.  They have some big ass drums.

Dan Potter informed us that Lucas Oil Stadium is the first stadium to be built with the marching arts in mind.  They have rehearsal space and acoustic design and everything.  Impressive.

SURF -- 75.45

Bridgemen Junior

So. Much. Fun.  "Pure Imagination" was more beautiful than I've ever heard anyone play before.  I've never actually been fond of that song, but I love the way that Surf plays it.  "Have fun at your band show with the bugle corps."  Every day I'm shufflin'.

ORE CRU -- 77.45

Red Fans for Tango

Bro figured out that the girl was singing underneath the pyramid thing during the orange section.  I'm pretty sure that I told him about that yesterday.  I think that any corps that plays Simple Gifts should have yellow flags, so that it can be a tribute to SCV's "Ballet for Martha", whether they mean to do it or not.. Just like they did. And it was gorgeous.

TROOPERS -- 77.65

I like the steam sound effect that happens when they just blow air through their horns.  Other people enjoyed their hip action.

<Intermission>

COLTS -- 79.20

I'm now just convinced more than ever that those hats are bird heads.  A judge got hit by the green boundary while it was being formed.  Bro didn't understand why it's called "Boundaries" if they keep moving the boundaries around.  Another standing ovation for that awesome soprano solo of "All By Myself".  She played without any accompaniment, and the audience was dead silent, soaking in the beauty of the music, until she hit her high note.  Then we all went crazy.  So very nice.  One of those other soprano players looked to be about 5 years old.  

PC -- 80.25

Smiled.  A LOT.  I was almost to the point of Proud Mama tears.  I yelled out, "GO, ANDY!" for Mike's friend's son.  Then I thought that maybe his name is Adam.  So I yelled that name quieter.  I could see the soloist breathing in preparation for the solo during the rest.  

ACADEMY -- 81.90

Yelled Kyla's name.  Then I asked Bro if that was right, because I said the wrong one yesterday.  I'm so insecure about the names today! They do a move that looks like the "Back to Back" choreography in Rockapella's "Zombie Jamboree".  That only makes me like them even more than I already do.  They keep slicing that one girl's neck, but she's still alive at the end.  I like the tug of war, with her in the middle.  

GLASSMEN -- 82.25

I like the way they play the Saint-Saens.  I didn't know that they had a sound of shattered glass from the synthesizer.  They don't need it.  Actually, nobody needs the synthesizer.  

XMEN -- 84.90*

I watched this on the jumbotron because I needed to leave immediately after the Glassmen show.  After the center snare steps in front of his section, they throw him a stick.  I don't think the drummer needed it, but OK.  Pretty marquis cross formation.  

BLUE STARS -- 84.60

I thought that the first girl was a mermaid, but she was just a wave.  The mermaids came later, though, along with a prerecorded siren song.  I would have liked it more without the prerecorded singing.  They had red-headed mermaids on their flags, and an anchor painted on their rifles.  I also like the half-anchor props.  

SPIRIT -- 85.65*

There she is!

I got a picture of the sexy Jubilee dancer girl.  Too much talking and prerecorded singing.  

BLUE KNIGHTS -- 87.65*

BK continues the Stravinsky theme of the day (Academy also had a Stravinsky piece).  This  time, I saw them changing the plumes on their shakos.  The change in color caught me by surprise yesterday.  It's Firebird, in space!  Now I get that the flag is of a planet, maybe Saturn.  Love the Phoenix formation at the end, as well as the flags.  

MADISON -- 88.80*

Choir Corps

Fun show, love it.  I love their arrangement of "Pictures at an Exhibition". Also, they sing it.  If only they would make a certain formation...maybe tomorrow?

Dan interviewed the Madison Scouts director and asked about their food truck, which had burned down.  He said that as soon as the news hit the drum corps community, the leaders from both Carolina Crown and the Cavaliers offered to help feed the Scouts.  I love this activity!

<Intermission>

The Edge performed in a section of seats nearby.  Dan conducted a drum corps trivia challenge, sponsored by Zildjian.  Aw, no dizzy people?  Bummer.

BO CRU -- 89.30*

I like their "Pines of Rome".  I don't really feel emotional about their show, though.

CAVALIERS -- 89.40*

Pop Art

I like when they get their swagger back at the end, especially because the DM just stands there without conducting it, facing the audience and nodding.  I hope it crosses over to next year.  Too many rifle drops.  

BLOO - 92.80*

Bloo Masque Drums

Oh, the CG has writing on their chests at the end, after they've stripped off their other clothing.  Bro can't read the Chinese one.  I guess he's not fluent by marriage to second generation.  Oh, and I can't read it either.  I really don't need the adjectives being told to me via talking.  

SCV -- 93.70*

Starry Night

They got me that time with "Music of the Night": I got all teary.  The Whitaker piece so awesomely blends with the Jupiter.  I love the pose right before Mars starts, like they are using a bow and arrow.  I tell ya, me and archery this year...

CADETS -- 94.10*

Cadets Gifts

They made a Christmas tree.  Do you hear what I hear?

PHREGIMENT -- 95.70*

They continue to do their Chevron, but still have not kneeled.  Eeww...that's a really bloody big read flag.  I love those pretty solos.  

CROWN -- 97.45*

You've got something on your chin

I think this is about the Green Lantern.  Or Superman, without the cape.  Or Peter Pan.  Again.  I really need to see the program.  CUBES!  A kid behind us could be a drum corps commentator, he's so knowledgeable.  He's, maybe, 8 years old.  

BD -- 98.20*

Why do they have to be so good at such weird stuff?  We like it, but hate ourselves for liking it.  I asked them to stop talking, but they did not.  Yet I still like their show.  Bro and I decided that we're like abused drum corps fans, taking a beating then coming back for more, over and over.  Is that irony?  It's probably Dada.  Whatever it is, they've succeeded in making us like them and hate ourselves for it.  Anyway, they played the heck out of that show.  

Awards were given.  The Jim Jones Leadership award went to the DM from Oregon Crusaders.  I like her name: "Happiness Yi".  So cute, and her smile fits her name.  The volunteers of the year included a woman who has been volunteering with the Colts for 30 years, and a couple that tabulates the scores.  The DCI Hall of Fame alumni were also introduced.  Thank goodness, no speeches.  The remaining 8 living founders of the original DCI were honored.  Then the Hall of Fame Class of 2012 was introduced.  Congrats, Sco Jo!  Then a bunch of DCI alumni got on the field for the Grand Reunion, and they welcomed the 2012 Age-Outs onto the field to join them.  On the jumbotron, a list of all of the DCI corps scrolled on, and I realized how many corps I've seen before that are now gone, and I missed their presence.  Then the lights went down, and we heard 5 alumni play solos.  GREAT solos from right below the jumbotron.  They were incredible.  We were then all invited to go to the Grand Reunion party, but we were tired and didn't feel like paying to get into a party, so we went back to the hotel to sleep while watching the Olympics.

Next Up:  FINALS